Violent Videogames

[WeAz]

Well, there has been a lot of Legislation about Violent videogames. I thought it would be nice to have a debate on the subject. Do you believe that these games are harmful to kids? Do you think they should be labeled in the same category as p orn? Or should they be left alone? This is to start another ones of those intellectual debates.

[LightningBoy]

Violence itself isn't a problem, it's the kind of violence.

I don't think it's any problem for a kid to play a game where you shoot the bad guy. I don't like it when a kid plays a game where they ARE the bad guy.

Video games are no excuse for bad parenting.

[Link, the Hero of Time]

Video games are not the problem, the parents are.

Prime example: Not 2 days ago I watched a parent buy GTA: Liberty City stories for her son, this kid had to be no older then 12. The box was stamped mature, but she still bought it because he did what every other child does, whined and complained till he got his way.

There is no such thing as a "bad" video game. If a child cannot distingish video game violence from real life violence, then there is something wrong with that child. I play Counter Strike, GTA, And Hitman all the time and yet I wont go out and mow down a crowd of people because I know the line between the real world and the fantasy of gaming.

This comic done by Ctl-Alt-Del artist Tim Buckley is a perfect example.
Caution, contains mild language.
http://www.ctrlaltdel-online.com/comic.php?d=20051012

[Captain Patrick]

I do not think the games are the problem, i have played violent games all my life and i have never done anything violent. In my opnion is a hole lot of variables that go in to making a person go do violent things, games maybe a small part of the cause but not the real cause of the violent behavoir.

[WeAz]

That is the most accurate portrayal of Jack Thompson ever.

[Tuvok8917]

I agree with Captain Patrick. Since i have a PC, i have been playing violent games. Only, for some kids it is bad to let them play such games. Some of them are goin to imagine how it is to kill. Look i like violent games, but since i'm a very peacefull boy*Only not for the Computer when i'm playing a war game * i can not imagine how it is to kill. That would be horrible. BUT, i also think that the game industry is making too much violent games.

[Leo Wyatt]

If parents allow their kids to play violent video games then it is their fault cause they don't care. But, parents that do care, they keep an eye of what their kids watch. I know I pay attention on what games my sons play and want to buy. I don't let them get any game that I don't approve of.

[Seven of Nine]

As always, it depends on the child. Some can responsibly play violent games from 12/13, some can't. The parents should be in control though.

I also find it amusing that the Sims 2 (rated 7+ here) is rated Teen in the USA. There's nothing wrong with that, but are European kids really more mature than American kids? Or is there just more chance of being sued in the US?

[harrykims#1fan]

i've been playin Violent games (Mortal Kombat and the like) since i was a little pipsqueak and its not affected me but there again i live 5 minutes away from the where a kid got killed supposedly the Murderer was inspired by the game Manhunt.

[lionhead]

Murders can be inspired by many things, Movies for example. They don't get any legislations.

Games like Manhunt and Postal are made for the violence, there is no gameplay. I don't agree children playing those games. Carmageddon however is a racing game so that one can stay.

[Emili]

My 6 year old friend, plays on Grand Theft Auto (18 )
Thats a bit too young. I think they're ok, as long as people dont start shooting people in the street or something.

[Captain.Dan V2]

I honestly have got to say I whole heartedly say that video games to not inspire violence, I have been playing video games all of my life, My cousin showed me them, I got interested and I still play them (Yeah I know I am only 15 so I am still rather young) I can honestly say noone I know as far as I know has ever tried anything from a video game.

I was like 13 when I played Grand Theft Auto Vice City and I loved it, My brother (11) played it with me and its never made me want to hurt anyone, I think that 'video game violence is bad' is alot of nonesense, A child who reads a chilling book and is considered intelligent because these books are usually well written with lots of big words, And violent movies are made alot and between Eastenders, Coronation Steet, Emmerdale and The Bill you can't really say there is little violence on the TV. Its a bit like me saying 'Anyone who wears a pair of Rockports is a charva and is a thug', Its incorrect, It is based on no fact and besides that its just a silly statement. Sometimes playing a video game can be theraputic alot like listening to soothing music they can calm people down.

[CJ Cregg]

i played things like Doom and GTA and all these 18 rated games since i was linke 11. I turned out alright

[madlilnerd]

I once saw quite a young father (can't have been more than 24 years old) in Game buying GTA for a kid who can't have been more than 5 years old. That's wrong. You've gotta let children keep hold of some innocence. We're so desensitised.
It really does depend on the game and whether the parent thinks their child should be exposed to it. Sometimes on the back of games they explain why it has a certain rating (violence, language, scary bits etc.) and I think that's a good idea, because it gives you more of an idea what you're getting in to.

Violent video games can be good- they improve the reflexes. Since I've been playing games at home like Red Faction 2 (16) and games at the arcade like House of the Dead 3 or 4 (unrated, as it is an arcade game) I've noticed a great improvement in my reflexes. The adrenaline rush I get from playing House of the Dead is amazing. I almost blacked out last time. Pepsi Max and adrenaline make me go a little loopy.

[webtaz99]

Parents and others do have the right to know just how "violent" a game is, but it's a game, it's a business, and it's a freedom.

People are responsible for what they do. Videogame makers can include violence or not. Businesses can choose to sell a game or not. Users can choose to play a game or not. Anyone can choose to behave violently or not.

I weary of all the finger-pointing going on. This "causes" violence. That "causes" drug abuse. The other "causes" ... whatever.

People are responsible for what they do. The few execptions (small children, the very old, etc.) should have supervision at all times.

[madlilnerd]

The very old? I'm guessing you mean senile people, not just the very old... because I know some old people who are still v. sane

[Jeff Miller]

It's not the video games fault that crap happens it's the parents today who don't do jack when it comes to watching their kids.

[Leo Wyatt]

I am total agree with Jeff. It is the parents fault by not watching what the kids play or watch. By being unsupervised, kids get by with murder.

[WeAz]

My parents generally let me play any game I want, as long as they get to examine it first. Some genres they let me play without a second glance, like RTS. Most games they look at. But I can play just about anything I want, with a few exceptions. My parents don't care about violence in games alot. If theres s ex in the game, I can't play it, no matter what. But most games like that are really bad anyway. My current favorite is Battlefield 2. I have been playing violent games since I was young. My first game was StarCraft, at 6 . My first M game was at 10, Half Life.

My parents don't supervise me when I play, but thats because they trust me to make the right choices, and I thank them for that.

[Krall]

I dont know who started the whole video games are bad thing, Myself, being 16, I have a rough day, i come home and blow things up online, My parents raised me well I like to think, and if any little retard blames a video game, they simply have no other excuse. It's sad i think, but, When a Game has been rated Mature, and some idoit parent buys it, then blames the game, Well, I won't go into how i feel about the kinds of people i see around the world. I Swear, There are some stupid *beep* people in the world... lol

[madlilnerd]

Amen, Krall.

Sometimes killing virtual people helps stop you killing real people you know at school. It gets tension out. To hunt and kill is a primal insinct, afterall.

[Curtis]

I completely agree with both Krall and madlilnerd, If in fact I had a bad day @ school (work now), I come home and immediately I pop in GTA: San Andreas (sold my other ones) and start going around and releasing the anger within me. I am not the type of person to let my rage slip out @ work or in the real world, although I have gotten into a few arguments @ work, but nothing violent. Also, people who blame GTA and other violent games on the violence/murders/etc. that we have in our world today...those people are pretty F'ed up and they know it. I myself do not consider GTA's to be too bad as you are not the bad guy, but an undercover cop (in two or three of them) who is roaming around the cities "Underground" to find the real criminal masterminds and "bring them to justice"...and if you say that makes you a bad guy, it must be the same for games like Batman Begins, X-Men Legends, etc. where you are the good guys "hunting" down the worlds most vile/sinister criminals. I do agree with the fact that parents nowadays should be more responsible, but so should other relatives; for example, I have three nephews and a niece and even though their parents do not want them dealing with hardly any violence, neither do I. When I am about to play WWE on my PS2 I immediately send them out of my room as their parents consider that a danger to their morales or something; however, they allow them to remain in the room if I play GTA, so I explain to them the difference between the game and the real world. Also, when they come over to visit us, we mostly let them play Zelda or Banjo/Kazooie on the N64 (games that are violent, but in a kid sort of way as no-one really dies).

All in all, violent video games are only a small cause in todays violence corrupt world as others have said, movies, certain tv shows, and even music can influence violence nowadays...and so can the way parents / relatives act around the younger children. Basically, responsibility is key and if we want less violence in this world...it has to start with the adults / or older children and work its way up, but in my opinion, a violence free world is a rarity these days.

[WeAz]

Anger is best taken out on the virtual...

[beammeupScotty]

thats what i think

[Admiral Dani�l]

The Video games can only be harmless (in my point of view) if they begin with the age of 2 or something, if you feed up your kid from 2 to 8 with violent video games like GTA, it can act agressive